NEW BHOY LEWIS BIDS TO MAKE HIS MARK
CELTIC Pressure’s sky high and Morgan’s had a taste of jet-set life in Europe, now he’s ready to adopt a champion mentality
IF THE first day of the latest chapter in Lewis Morgan’s career didn’t provide a sufficient eye-opener, the plush aircraft that carried Celtic to Armenia this week would have done it. Essentially a luxury airborne hotel, the journey with which the Parkhead side began their quest for a third successive season of European football was made with some style.
The trajectory of Morgan’s journey is an interesting one to chart now too. Having established himself as the standout player i n the Championship last term with St Mirren, the former Rangers youth player is out to prove that he can cope with the significant elevation from Paisley to Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The opening morning of pre-season itself was sufficient for the 21-year-old to sense the difference but it is the small details that have reaffirmed the fact that he has moved into an environment where utter professionalism is the daily requirement.
“I am in a different place from 12 months ago but that is what I always aspired to,” said the versatile winger. “I felt that I could get to this level if I put my mind to it.
“It has probably come quicker than I thought it would but I am here, settled and enjoying every minute of it.
“The biggest difference is the standards and the intensity. Everything goes up a level when you come to a club like this. You see that by the demands that the players put on themselves. Everything is taken seriously.
“I’m not saying it wasn’t like that at other clubs, but winning is bred right through Celtic. Whether it’s a possession drill or something, everyone is always trying to do their best and keep the demands high. Scott Brown is the captain and will always be vocal in training.
“But there is a good group and everyone makes demands. It’s not just down to one person. Everybody sets standards and it’s up to us all to follow that.”
Morgan’s wish to make an impact this term at Celtic could potentially be aided by his own versatility. While he favours playing on the lefthand side he can play on the right and inside, something that can be to his benefit as he looks to make a name for himself in an area of the pitch where Celtic are spoiled for choice.
Making the move from other domestic clubs to Celtic has proven to be notoriously tricky for some players. For every Stuart Armstrong there has been a Gary Mackay-Steven, a Ryan Christie or a Scott Allan who has been on the periphery of the first-team. Morgan is astute enough to appreciate the level of competition in front of him and it is to his credit that he appears to have made a positive early impression.
“We have top-quality players all over the pitch and it’s good that I am learning from James [ Forrest],” said Morgan. “It was good he got off the mark the other day and he just picked up where he left off.
“James has been terrific but there are a lot of good wingers at the club – both in the first team and coming through. It will be a tough task to get in the team but I want to push on.
“I have played all four positions across the front and I am versatile – but there is so much quality in this squad.
There are always going to be players battling for the positions.
“That’s healthy competition and it does help that I can play in different areas. My main position is on the left but I have been on the right and that’s been good too, as I just want to get minutes.”
One of the first learning experiences for Morgan has been the experience of the UEFA Champions League qualification ties. Traditionally the most fraught period of Celtic’s season, these are the games which underpin the entirety of the campaign for the Parkhead side.
Having established a solid 3-0 win over Alashkert this week in Armenia, it would take a considerable collapse for Celtic to fail to progress to the second qualification round and it is a learning curve that Morgan is relishing.
“Being involved in the Champions League for the first time was great,” he said. “It was a good result for us too. It was another step for me and I enjoyed the experience.
“European football was alien to me and I’d never played on that stage before. But it was another big moment in a short period of time and I really enjoyed it. The conditions were tough. It was probably the hottest I have ever experienced in terms of a game.
“The boys did really well and you could see towards the end of the game that we were the team pushing on.
“Some people probably thought that the home would be doing that, but we finished stronger. These ties are tough. They are never easy.
“We have seen that in the past with several teams. It’s a long journey but we went out there and did a job.
“Hopefully that sets us up for the next round if we get through.”
Winning is bred right through Celtic. Everyone is always trying to do their best and keep the demands high